Two Contraceptives Put Users at Greater Risk for HIV Infection

A study released on Monday shows that women using two popular hormonal contraceptives put themselves — and their partners — at greater risk for HIV. While this is a problem for all users of these drugs, it is particularly worrying to people in southern and eastern Africa, where these affordable and easily available contraceptives are used in a very high risk environment.

Pam Belluck,science journalist for The New York Times,andDr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE, a humanitarian organization with programs to end poverty in nearly 70 countries, talk about the details of the study and what can be done to prevent HIV in Africa.

One must say that natural family planning, which has been taught in poorer countries and has no side effects, has a lot going for it. It allows people to space their children according to prudence, and is more reliable than contraceptives. (And people who use NFP have more sex.)